Method of vulcanization



Jan- 18, 1944- Y G. P. BosoMwoRTH TAL 25339541 METHOD oF vULcANIzATIoN NVENTORS Isa/ive f. Base/moer# HANS G. Hns/? ATTORNEYS Jan'. 18, 1944. G. P. BosoMwoRTH vL=:r AL 2,339,541

METHOD OF VULCANIZATION Filed Aug. 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN-ro R5 sans P. .Hasan vom r/l AJH/vs G. Hna/ER BY g?? Y ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 18, 1944 METHOD F VULCANIZATION George P. Bosomworth and Hans G. Hager, Akron, Ohio, assignors to The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio. a corporation of Ohio Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,540

Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for vulcanizing rubber articles and to improved methods of vulcanization.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of vulcanization which requires a minimum of expensive vulcanization apparatus to practice same.

An object `of the invention is to devise an improved method particularly designed for the vulcanization of very large tires, for the problem of vulcanization, cooling, and ejection of the tire from the mold are quite different from those encountered in the production of tires of ordinary sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, easily practiced method for separating large molds after the vulcanization of the article therein has been effected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel mold cooling method.

The foregoing and further objects will be manifest from .the following specification, in which the invention is described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspectivey view of vulcanization apparatus for use in practicing the invention; and

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, with the mold cover closed and with the mold and vulcanizable article being positioned therein.

Referring specifically to the vulcanizer shown in Figure 1, it is seen that it includes a pot heater I0 Which comprises a casing member II which is supported by several legs l2. This casing member I I has a cover I3 provided therefor which is adapted to be snugly received on and over the open upper end of the casing II. The cover I3 is carried by lever arms I4 that are journaled upon upwardly extending arms I5 that are formed integral with, or secured to, lthe rear portion of the casing II. Movement of the cover I3 is controlled by the piston rods I6 that engage With the lever arms le intermediate the ends thereof. The piston rods I6 are received in cylinders I'I, pivotally mounted on the casing Il and adapted to project and retract the piston rods I6 whereby the cover I3 is raised or lowered, as desired.

Safety means are provided to prevent accidental lowering of the cover I3. These means comprise channel shaped members or struts I8 that are pivotally connected at their upper ends to the piston rods It and are disposed at the mally rest in respective channelled guides 20, asV

clearly shown in Fig. 2. When the piston rods i6 have raised the `cover I3 to the fully open position shown in Fig. 1, the piston rods I6 -are inclined somewhat rearwardly toward their upper ends, and the struts I8, which otherwise would hang vertically by gravity, are urged into position'against the piston rods I6,by reason of the counterweights I9, their lower ends thereblr being positioned over the tops of the cylinders I'I, in position to engage the latter. Hence, downward movement of the piston rods isprevented until safety means (not shown) move the channel shaped members I8 from their safety position shown in Fig. 1 to an oblique position wherein their i'ree ends are over the guides 20. In case of failure of pressure in the cylinders I'I, the struts I8 act as props which engage the tops of cylinders Il to prevent descent of theV cover I3.

As an additional safety measure, each lever arm I4 is formed with a hook-like formation vIlla that extends partly around the clevis that is mounted on the end of piston rod I6, concentrically of the pivot pin securing said clevis to said lever arm.l In case `of failure of said pivot pin,`

the clevis would cradle in the concave surface of formation Illa, thereby supporting the arm I4 and preventing the cover I3 from dropping.

Furthermore, to provide protection in caseV of failure of the pivot pins .that connect the coverl I3 to the ends of lever arms I4, heavy guards or housings i3d are Cast integral with the cover, at said pivot points, said guards being openoi'i one side to admit the end portions oi sadlever arms. Thus upon failure of one or both of said pivot pins, the guards would prevent the cover from droppin-g out of engagement with the lever arms. y

Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Figure l'when the rheater I0 is in closed position. A lockingA ring 2l is mounted upon the casing Ii and engages With outwardly extending lugs formed `on the outer edge of both portions of the heater, as described specicaly in Bosomworth Patent azoovl. cover member I3 cannot be moved uwardly re1- atively of the Casin-g member II until the lool;-

ing ring 2| is inV proper position relative to the cover I3.

VIn the presentconstruction, a relativelyflarge Y This arrangement is such that the Both sections of the heater I 6 are adapted-to4 have an annular mold section secured thereto, of which upper mold sectionsis designated 28.and lower mold section is desi-gnated 32, the moldas a whole being designated 29.Y The cover I3 has a nat head portion 26 formed therein, which head portion is integral with the remainder of the cover and is at the lower portion thereof when the cover is horizontal. Said head portion 26 does not extend Ventirely across the entire-cover, but has portions of its perimeter spaced from the cover so ,that heating fluid may circulate between` head and cover and thus provideadrequateheat transfer to the mold. Mold sec-` .tion 28-is secured ,to the head 26 by cap screws 2'I that extend through the head from the upper sidethereof. To provide access to the screws 21,' the cover I3is formed with openings 46, A46 directly over saidscrews to admit a suitable socket .wrench forloosening or tightening the screws as desired. The .ppenings 46 normally are closed by pipeplugs 41 to prevent escape of gaseous fluid from the interior of the heater. The lower section 320i the mold 29 is, in turn, secured to theplaten 23 by cap screws 33.

The-.mold V29 is utilized for vulcanizing a pneu matic tire casing 31%. The tire 34 has anv eX- pansible core 35 positioned therein, which core is held in place by means of a circumferentially split bead-engaging. ring 36. rThe bead ring 36 comprises an upper and a lower ring, 3i and 38, respectively, which rings are substantially L- shaped in section, that are secured together and have theircouter, legs engaged with the head portions ofthe tire 34, as shown. The unit con- Sistiner kof the tire, core, and bead rings is clamped tothe lower mold section 32'by means of circumferentially spaced substantially C-shaped clamps 39'." The clamps 39 are engaged with a flange 4I formed on the lower ring section 38 and the under surface of the platen 23, so that by tightening these clamps, the tire 3d is substantially brought into'tight engagement Withv the lower mold seotion. Fluid for raising the ram Z2 is introduced into-cylinderl IIa through a pipe 46' which connects'to' a suitableV fluid.` pressure source (not shown).- Steam for vulcanizing the tire 36 is admitted tothe heater by way of supply pipe 29a; Suitable `pipe connections l not shown) are provided-forintroducing heateduid underv pressure Y tothe expansible core-35 in the usual manner.vk

A pipe 42 is mounted within the casing memi loerII adjacent the upper edge thereof, as shown i11-Figure 2. v ThisA pipeli2V extendsy completelyy around thel memberII except for the portions thereofoccupied -by the track sections and the (roller-arms 2li,-A and it .hasV a plurality-of` cir-- cumferentially` spaced holes A3 formed inl theVv upper, inner surface thereof;

Note that the innerredges of the bead rings 36 are-beveled o and extend ataf radially outward direction `from their axial .outer to .their axial -Y The corresponding edges of the inner surfaces. moldvZ 91 are -adaptedto Y- engage withthese outer edges of the bead ring 36 whereby the rings and tire carried thereby are centrally and properly positioned with relation to the mold 29.

In operation of the vulcanization apparatus shown, the green or unvulcanized tire 34, having expansible core therein, is placed upon the lower mold section 32 while the cover I3 is raised. The ram 22 at this time may be in its lower position, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2,

but if not, it is now moved to such position. Then the clamps 39 are tightened to draw the lower bead of the tire into engagement with the surface of the mold 32. This action also engages theloweredge of the bead ring 36 with the inner edge of the mold section 32. Next the cover I3 is lowered and locked in position, after which iluid is introduced into the cylinder Ila, through the pipe lill, and the ram 22 is forced upwardly. This forces the tire 36 into engagement with the upper mold section 28 and engages the upper edge of the bead ring 36 with the mold section 28 whereby the tire A3ft is completely inclosed. Suit'- able fluid pressure is then setup within the eX- pansiblefcore 35 to distend the tire-S-into tight Contact with the mold', after which vulcanization steam is introduced into the pot heateri through thepipe After vulcanization has been effected, the steam confined within the pot heater is allowed to exhaust therefrom andthe expansible core 3v=alsoI has the. pressure therein removed. Then cooling fluid is forced into-the pot heater through the pipe 2 untilf the mold 29- is completely covered with liquid. This cooling fluid is sprayed onto the upper mold section 28,l and, of course, collectsin the bottomof the .pot heater i6. Only a portion'of. the steam ,and'air confined within the pot heater is permitted to escape, whereby such confined gas sets up appreciable pressure within the heater. When about 80 lb. per inch pressure is set up in the heater I6, the cylinder IIa is evacuated. This leaves the ram 22 free for downward movement and the entire weight of the ram, platen, and lower mold section are all carried yby the cover I3 through the vulcanized tire fand suchtensional force set up thereon acts to break the mold sections 28 and 82 apart slightly. However, these mold sections are not completely separated due to the relatively large-adhesive forces between the mold and the tire. The pressure in the heater III then forces water between the mold sections and gradually forces the ram 22 downwardly to break more and more of the tiresurface fromengagement with the mold surfaces until the upper mold section is completely freed fromthe lower mold'section and the tire.v The tire Sli and the bead ring 36 remain in engagementwith the lower mold section 32 whereby theV cover I3 is Vfree to be raised to its uppermost position and expose the interior of the pot heater. This cover I3 is raised only after a suitable exhaust portlnotshown) is opened todrain the water from the potl heater I6. Then thev ram 22-is moved to its uppermost position and the tire and core assembly are removed from the mold section 32, whereupon the vulcanizer unit is ready for another vulcanization cycle.

Practice vof the lpresent invention permitsv the use of a so-called single acting rarny 22 and avoids force thereon. Such doublel acting rams aredifi'lcultv to -main-ta-inin vgood operative` condition;

Also, the present invention obtains double use of the cooling fluid. The ram 22 is sealed in the casing lla by a gasket ring 44 carried by the upper end of the casing.

This invention is adapted for the production of very large tires, such as those used for earth moving equipment wherein the dimensions are on the Order of 30 inches sectional width, 100 inches over-all diameter, and the weight of the tire is on the order of 1% tons. In the manufacture of such tires there are new problems in obtaining sufficient heat and pressure to vulcanize properly such a large mass of rubber and fabric and after vulcanization to cool and separate the tire from the mold. These problems diifer from those encountered in the production of small tires, and are satisfactorily solved by the apparatus and method disclosed herein.

While a complete embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will d be understood that various modifications thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

tVhat is claimed is:

1. That vulcanization method comprising the steps of positioning one mold section in a chamber, bringing a second mold section into engagement with the under surface of said first mold section by exerting a pressure thereon, admitting heated fluid under pressure to the chamber to vulcanize the article within the mold sections, removing the pressure urging the second mold section against the first, and thereafter increasing the pressure in the chamber to higher pressure than that employed during vulcanization to break the mold sections apart.

2. The vulcanization method wherein sections of a mold within a heating chamber are held together by a fluid pressure ram, comprising the steps of vulcanizing a product within the mold under heat and pressure, releasing the pressure on the ram, and forcing a cooling fluid under pressure into the heated chamber to cool the mold and product sufficient iiuid being introduced within the chamber to create an internal pressure suiicient to force apart the mold sections and to break the product loose therefrom.

3. The vulcanization method wherein sections of a mold Within a heating chamber are held together by a fluid pressure ram, comprising the steps of vulcanizing a product within the mold under heat and pressure, forcing a cooling iluid into the heated chamber to cool the mold and product and at the same time to build up a pressure within the chamber, and releasing the pressure on the ram whereby pressure unbalance between the mold interior and exterior acts to crack the mold sections apart and the pressure within the chamber at least partially forces the product from the mold sections.

4. The vulcanization method wherein sections of a mold within a steam pressure chamber are held together by a vertically reciprocab-le fluid pressure ram when the ram is at its uppermost position, comprising the steps of introducing liquid into the chamber to build up pressure therein greater than the steam pressure employed as a vulcanizing medium, and removing the fluid pressure from the ram whereby gravity and the liquid pressure within the chamber combine to break the mold sections apart.

5. In a vulcanization method wherein a green tire casing is vulcanized in a sectional mold with an expansible core within the tire for pneumatic ination during vulcanization toforce the tire outwardly against the mold, the vulcanization being effected by surrounding the mold with steam at a pressure greater than atmospheric, the step of separating the tire from the mold after vulcanization, said step consisting of deating the expansible core, replacing the steam surrounding themold with cool liquid under pressure, and employing the pressure of said liquid to force the mold sections apart.

GEORGE P. BOSOMWORTH. HANS G. HAGER. 

